NTSB Factual Report

On June 17, 2001, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N75579, collided with the ground during an attempted emergency landing following the loss of engine power . The supervised, solo training flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot had no injuries. The flight initially departed Quincy Municipal Airport, Quincy, Florida, at 1100.

Reportedly, the student pilot made a full stop landing at Early County Airport, Blakely, Georgia. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to a cruising altitude of 3,500 feet. Due to clouds up ahead, he then made a descent down to 3,000 feet and leveled off. According to the student pilot, the right wing of the airplane was a little heavy so he positioned the fuel selector to a position between "Both" and "Right" tank positions. The student pilot was unaware that the fuel selector must be in the "Indent" to ensure fuel flow. The engine quit approximately 1-1/2 minutes later. The student pilot went through the emergency checklist and moved the fuel selector valve to the "Both" position. After efforts to restart the engine failed, the student pilot selected a nearby peanut field for an emergency landing. Approximately 50 feet above the ground, the propeller stopped. During the approach to land the airplane impacted the ground, nose first.

Examination of the engine failed to disclose any mechanical failures. No mechanical failures were reported by the pilot.

The student pilot was counseled and taken to a similar airplane were he was given a detailed explanation of how the fuel selector valve works.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's failure to use the fuel selector valve properly which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power, and the pilot's improper flare during landing.